? Are spreadsheets in the scope of your Sarbanes-Oxley project?
? Is your job to assess or prevent spreadsheet inaccuracy, error or even fraud?
? Discover the really essential indicators to look for
? Learn good practice to prevent errors and improve quality

Most spreadsheets contain errors, as is clear from the research reported at the European Spreadsheet Risk Interest Group conferences every year. See  their list of 72 reported incidents of expensive and embarrassing mistakes.

In the current climate of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, where auditors must report on the integrity of controls over financial reporting, an organization's reliance on spreadsheets needs to be supported by good internal controls.

The intended audience is anyone who builds or reviews spreadsheet models, such as managers, accountants, actuaries, financial modelers, or IT analysts  in enterprise SOX IT audits. You need to have an intermediate or advanced knowledge of Excel. You should leave the seminar with the confidence to use the tools and methods shown to risk-assess and test spreadsheets in your organisation.

? Where to start and what are the most efficient techniques to use
? How you can cut down a huge system of spreadsheets to a manageable audit task
? The symptoms that indicate potential or actual problems
? How a company can create an inventory of its critical spreadsheets, assess them for risk, and prioritize scarce resources
? How the top spreadsheet auditing software tools compare, including little-used secrets of Excel's auditing features
? Includes a copy of "Spreadsheet Check and Control", Patrick O'Beirne's new book of 47 professional checking techniques
? Reinforce your learning with an optional two hours of hands-on practice using your preferred auditing tool on your laptop
? Demonstration versions of auditing software made available on request

In order to provide optimum benefit to attendees, there is a limited number of places.
Each participant will receive free helpdesk support for 30 days after the class.

08:30 Registration

09:00 Controls over spreadsheets;
 - regulatory overview & background to spreadsheet risks;
 - review of spreadsheet usage, criticality, controls gap;
 - management of the spreadsheet lifecycle;
 - audit methodology, inventory, complexity & risk assessment

10:00 Spreadsheet inspection;
 - prioritisation of effort;
 - getting to grips with an unfamiliar model, mapping techniques, finding links, asking questions
 - types of error and concealment

10:45 Break

11:00 Know what you're looking for;
 - specific error-prone functions and operations;
 - structural testing, common defects, bad smells, pattern inconsistencies

11:45 Exercise in execution testing, test cases

12:30 Lunch

13:45 Appropriate techniques to detect and control different types of errors;
 - comparing native Excel features with third-party utilities and auditing software;
 - detecting concealment as well as mistakes and omissions;
 - detecting suspicious or fraudulent activity (eg Benford's Law)
 - spreadsheet comparisons

14:45 Break

15:00 Good design principles to prevent errors;
 - specification, documentation, styles, building, options, validation, data integrity;
 - developer and user training for best practice standards

16:00 Start of hands-on practice with participants' own laptops
 ? we provide example spreadsheets seeded with errors and concealed data

17:00 Close of day

Bookings are not confirmed until full payment has been received. You may pay by credit card or bank transfer.
We show you how to audit your spreadsheets in accordance with good practice. While every effort is made to help you we cannot guarantee the completeness or accuracy of your work ? that is entirely your responsibility.
Delegates agree to accept any license conditions imposed by the suppliers of the audit software used.

Refund Policy: We refund your fee in full if you cancel at least six weeks before the course. After that, a 50% handling charge will be made. You may of course substitute another delegate at any time. If we cancel the workshop, all fees received will be immediately refunded in full. We are not liable for any other costs you may incur in relation to this course.